The Labour Party's 2023 general election presidential candidate, Peter Obi, denounced the cruel treatment of minors participating in the August #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.
The former governor of Anambra State called on the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, the Police, the DSS, and the National Human Rights Commission to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the treatment of these youngsters in a statement posted on his X Platform (previously Twitter).
A minor reportedly passed out during court proceedings from starvation, which led to significant condemnation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. The release of the demonstrators who are being held has been demanded by many.
"I just watched distressing and abhorrent footage of 124 demonstrators, including youngsters, going to court today to ensure the protection of their fundamental rights," Obi said. The video shows minors who are so frail that they can hardly stand and others who are fainting from weariness and malnutrition. Every citizen of our country should be concerned about the apparent malnutrition of these minors.
He underlined that the treatment of these minors in federal care was subpar. Protesting against poor governance that directly impacts their livelihoods—a right protected by our constitution under a democratic regime—is the offense charged against these people, including youngsters. Ironically, a large number of current government officials once supported this fundamental prerogative while they were in opposition.
"Our legal framework assumes that suspects deserve humane treatment, even in correctional facilities," Obi said, highlighting the importance of maintaining dignity even for people who are in detention. We live in a world that respects human dignity, thus this scenario is worrisome.
He conveyed gratitude to the presiding judge for stopping the trial, saving Nigeria, a democratic country, from further humiliation.
"I urge relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this inhumane treatment of minors in order to prevent similar incidents in the future," he added, referring in particular to the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Justice, the Police, the DSS, and the National Human Rights Commission.